Letters to the editor on energy standard, Ike airport, Issa

The renewable portfolio standard is a mandate crafted under former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ voluntary guidelines for energy companies. Those restrictions were then signed by Gov. Mark Parkinson in 2009. The RPS dictated that 10 percent of Kansas’ energy was to be derived from renewable sources by 2010. Additional regulations stipulate that the rates increase to 15 percent in 2015 and 20 percent in 2020.

The renewable portfolio standard is a mandate crafted under former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ voluntary guidelines for energy companies. Those restrictions were then signed by Gov. Mark Parkinson in 2009. The RPS dictated that 10 percent of Kansas’ energy was to be derived from renewable sources by 2010. Additional regulations stipulate that the rates increase to 15 percent in 2015 and 20 percent in 2020.

The result is a “renewables” industry that has been enriched at the expense of citizens. Kansans are calling on our state lawmakers to repeal a policy that results in higher energy bills across the state.

Other states are feeling the effects of RPS laws, too. The Institute for Energy Research found that citizens in states with an RPS have electric bills that are, on average, 39 percent higher. Moreover, the standards are overwhelmingly failing to do what supporters promised when they were passed: Of the 36 states with similar laws on the books, only 14 are meeting or are on track to meet the established goals.

Mandates like the RPS disable competition – competition that ultimately leads to lower costs. It’s simply more government involvement that ends up picking winners and losers in the marketplace, and we would argue that is not an appropriate role for government.

• Out-of-state travelers will no longer have a sense of geographic location upon arriving in Wichita on a commercial flight. “Mid-Continent Airport” expressed a feeling of centrality. It was the airport’s way of announcing to visitors that they are now closer to everything in the United States than anywhere else. No other airport in the nation could make that claim.
• With all due respect to what the Eisenhower name represents, Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is a considerable mouthful. Most people will not take the time and make the effort to say its full name when the Wichita airport is mentioned in their conversations. When all is said and done, it will simply be called “Ike Airport.”

JOHN STOHLER

Wichita

Honor Ike

I was pleased that Kansas and Wichita finally gave a long-overdue honor to President Eisenhower by naming the Wichita airport after him (March 5 Eagle). Eisenhower was one of our best presidents and did many great things for the country, including the interstate highway system and being politically brave enough to stand up for African-American children in Little Rock.

I’m a Kansas native and have traveled around the country throughout my life. I have wondered why there was so little honor for this president in Kansas. Most people do not even know that Kansas was Eisenhower’s home.

Contrast that with other presidents. You cannot drive into Kansas City, Mo., and not know Harry Truman’s home was nearby, because you see his name on many things. Even Jimmy Carter’s name is more prominent in Atlanta than Eisenhower’s is in Kansas. There is even a major freeway named for Eisenhower in, of all places, Chicago.

If the Democrats in Chicago can honor a Republican president, surely his home state can. I am glad to see Kansas did the right thing.

KEVIN KITCHEN

Lithia Springs, Ga.

Issa arrogant

At a hearing last week about the Internal Revenue Service, the committee chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., questioned the witness. When it was the Democrat’s turn, Issa refused to let Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., speak and actually cut off his microphone. He did not allow any Democrats to participate.

This is the height of arrogance and partisanship and cannot be tolerated. This is not the way democracy is supposed to work. In fact, this not democracy and it cannot work.